text:
According to CarNewsChina’s report, Oppo CEO Tony Chen started to do the necessary research for the electric car market with his team. But the details of the project are not yet clear.
Recently, we have heard the names of technology giants in the automotive world frequently. After names like Apple, Xiaomi and Huawei, it’s time for Oppo. Chinese sources state that the company is preparing to enter the electric vehicle market.
Oppo, also known in our country, operates as a subsidiary of BBK Electronics, which is known as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer. According to the report of CarNewsChina, the company intends to develop an electric car that bears its name. According to a person close to Oppo’s co-founder and CEO Tony Chen, the company is conducting research into making cars, but the project is yet to be officially shared.
According to the report, Chen himself is the head of Oppo’s project to enter the electric car market. It is stated that Chen and his team have been looking for resources for the breakthrough in recent weeks and hiring talented names in the industry. On the other hand, Oppo has not yet confirmed these news. But Tony Chen’s statement, “We will focus on areas where Oppo can perform well even in vehicle production. If Oppo has enough power, we will try it in the future,” supports the news.
Oppo’s plans for the electric vehicle market are still unclear. Will it produce its own vehicle as Xiaomi planned, or will it agree with existing manufacturers such as Huawei and provide technology support, we will see this in the future.
The company has many patents on autonomous driving technologies. It is also among the news that Chen met with battery manufacturer CATL, which is also the supplier of Tesla.


text:
Sugar Rush, a dessert festival was recently organised by DLF Mall of India in partnership with Little Black Book. The venue was DLF Mall of India, Noida. There was quite a rush here when we visited but we took our own ‘sweet time’.
So Delhi, the Delhi city guide had organised a conference for bloggers and social media influencers. The program list comprised of sessions by expert panels from travel, food, fashion etc. The event was by invite and saw a huge turnout.
World leaders in transport mobile app UBER have now come up with a food delivery app in India called UberEATS. The India launch of UberEATS started with Delhi and we were invited to the launch event at Hotel Le Meridien at Janpath. Read on for details.
Wow! Momo has sprouted all over Delhi NCR. This is a Kolkata chain and they may launched concurrently in Kolkata and Delhi. But what on earth is with their momos?
Kitty Su at The Lalit Hotel recently hosted an event to introduce Desperado beer in Delhi NCR. This was a late night event replete with foot tapping music, over sized pizza and rain outside. Read on to know more about the new beer in town.
ITC Foods launched its range of basic and blended spices under a newly created umbrella brand – ITC Master Chef. The new collection boasts of being subjected to more than 470 tests for pesticide residues as per European Standards. We were invited to the delightful launch event at ITC Maurya, New Delhi.
The Classroom is a pub in Sector 29, Gurgaon. This place was on our bucket list for long and we finally made it last weekend. Here‘s how our revisit to The Classroom turned out.
Dhaba by Claridges has introduced a new menu “Dhaba Road Trips”. Chef Ravi Saxena divulged the back ground to this. Read on for the interesting story.

domain: news


text:
05 Sep A New Chapter Awaits The Datai Langkawi
LEGENDARY RAINFOREST AND BEACH RESORT CLOSES FOR 10-MONTH RESTORATION
The Datai Langkawi officially closed its doors on 4th September as the resort embarks on an extensive restoration project. The 10-month regeneration, the first of its scale since its inception in 1993, will see Malaysia’s leading luxury resort begin a new chapter in July next year.
Guests residing at The Datai Langkawi toasted to its future success, whilst cherishing memories of its legacy and looking forward to celebrating its reopening ahead. Reassured that the resort’s staff whom they have grown to know well over the years await their return, the promise of elevated and authentic Malaysian experiences at The Datai Langkawi complemented by new facilities beckon.
The beloved ‘Datai DNA’ is being preserved by renowned interior designer Didier Lefort of DL2A leading the renovation. Didier was part of the initial Kerry Hill Architects team and developed The Datai Langkawi that many know and love, 24 years ago.
The redesign will include renovations to the resort’s guestrooms, suites and villas; the construction of a Nature Centre; additional spa pavilions; a refreshed retail space; and a fitness centre by the beach as well as an overall enhancement of the landscaping.
An increased focus on sustainability is underpinned by the construction of a dedicated Nature Centre, which will be overseen by the resort’s renowned resident naturalist, Irshad Mobarak; who will, of course, also continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring that the project will have a minimal impact on the treasured surrounding rainforest and its beloved creature inhabitants.
“The grande dame of luxury resorts in Asia looks forward to a new era, and remains focused on reaffirming our island paradise as the most sought-after destination in the region and beyond,” said Arnaud Girodon, General Manager.
During the resort closure, The Datai Langkawi will be the first hotel in Malaysia to offer employees advance education programmes with the launch of Datai Invest in People. A tailor-made programme in collaboration with leading hospitality universities, this presents a natural progression for the resort as it continues to grow and strengthen its most valued assets.
The resort’s regeneration and activities during closure can be tracked via social media platforms of The Datai Langkawi.
As a chapter concludes, the next certainly promises exciting new adventures ahead.
Petrie PR is a dynamic boutique Asia based PR agency providing specialist communications strategy for the luxury lifestyle, travel, property, design and spa sectors.
Regionally and internationally connected, our reach spans all the most influential media in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia as well as emerging markets including Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Find out more about us.


text:
Two Republican state lawmakers submitted new bills today to remove Florida’s “wall of separation” between grocery and liquor stores.
House Bill 499, filed by state Rep. John Wood, and Senate Bill 468 from state Sen. Denise Grimsley seeks to repeal Florida’s “outdated and inconvenient” separation law. Both bills will be considered in the 2015 legislative session that starts March 3.
Applauding the bill is Floridians for Fair Business Practices, a coalition of retailers and businesses that have been calling for the state to modernize its Prohibition-era law, on the books since 1935. FFBP believes the regulation restricts Floridians access to alcoholic beverages by requiring liquor sales in a separate location from groceries and other goods.
Florida is among the 20 states with separation laws.
Other states have the ability to ‘co-mingle’ product, says a statement from the FFBP, offering customer “convenience and less regulation.”
Wood, a Winter Haven Republican, believes that removing the “antiquated” separation law not only supports a free market, but also allows improved security in alcohol sales.
“There is no denying that there is a higher crime rate among separate liquor stores,” he said. “If passed, this law would enable establishments who want to sell spirits in the same aisle as beer and wine, where even greater security measures are in place.”
Grimsley added that the measure, which she calls a “straightforward repealer” bill, would give consumers a real choice.
“For retail stores,” the Sebring Republican said, “there is a clear concern that archaic regulations are a barrier to their consumers’ shopping choices. … In this case, Florida shoppers and shopkeepers should be able to decide what’s on the grocery shelf, not government.”
FFBP coalition spokesperson Christina Johnson praised the bill as “pro-business, common sense legislation” that would level the playing field between independent package stores and major retailers statewide.
“Tearing down the proverbial wall between spirits and beer and wine will allow more customer convenience and in an atmosphere with even more securities in place to address minor access concerns,” she said.


text:
MILAN— Giuseppe Disponetti has hewed to the same business model since opening his cafe here in 1989. Using a tried-and-true coffee blend, he sells mostly espresso and cappuccino to regulars who toss back their drinks while standing at the bar. He hasn’t refurbished in 20 years and offers no trendy blended coffee beverages or comfy chairs.
Now there’s a new coffee shop nearby. It sells a filtered coffee long derided in Italy as black water.
“I don’t see the point of that,” says Mr. Disponetti, 58 years old, when asked if he has considered modernizing his cafe’s coffee menu. “We need to defend Italian tradition. The only real coffee is espresso.”
That might be true, but some Italians are jolting its coffee tradition anyway. Across the country, more cafes now offer flavored coffee, and coffee maker Luigi Lavazza SpA is selling them a new blend made especially to brew American-style coffee. Nestlé SA’s home-coffee machines that can make chocolate cappuccino are selling well in Italy. The use of coffee pods in home machines has soared 70% since 2012.
Coffee lovers in Italy say the changes show that some of the country’s deep-rooted habits are being slowly eroded under pressure from a relentless economic downturn.
More shops in Italy are open on Sundays, an intrusion on family time. Fast-food outlets such as kebab shops are challenging trattorias. Factory workers anxious to keep their jobs are agreeing to work through summer holidays.
The challenge to Italy’s coffee culture feels especially bitter. The smell of coffee permeates Italy’s city centers, and most Italians have a favorite espresso bar, where the drinks are made by injecting hot water at high pressure through a puck of tightly packed grounds. Customers drink a shot at a time from a tiny porcelain cup. The ritual lasts no more than a few minutes and has changed little for generations.
Italians have long scoffed at U.S. coffee trends, especially Starbucks Corp. SBUX -0.07 % ’s faux-Italian words (“grande”), paper cups and sugary-sweet brews with ingredients such as pumpkin that have precious little to do with the real stuff.
Walking down the street with a coffee cup in hand is widely considered unhealthy and ill-mannered. “They’re not those kinds of kids,” Annamaria Conte, a 44-year-old hairdresser from Naples, says proudly of her two children, whom she has always admonished not to eat or drink on the run.
McDonald’s Corp. MCD -0.54 % has just one-fifth as many drive-throughs in Italy as it does in France. Nestlé tried to sell Italians Nescafé iced coffee in a can about 15 years ago but soon gave up. “On the go is just not in the culture of this country,” says Carlo Oldani, Nescafé’s marketing manager in Italy.
Since 2009, though, sales in Italy’s espresso bars have fallen 18%, according to Euromonitor International Inc. Coffee purists say the quality of espresso in many cafes has slipped. Few owners have been able to spruce up because of the economic squeeze.
That is creating more opportunity for entrepreneurs like Alfio Bardolla, a financial coach who noticed while traveling abroad that Italians were willing to hang out in coffee bars.
Getting the idea off the ground in Milan was tough at first. Mr. Bardolla had to import hot-beverage cups from the U.K. and look hard for machines that make filtered coffee. A local coffee maker had to create a special blend suitable for flavored coffee drinks.
In 2009, Mr. Bardolla opened Arnold Coffee, which sells caramel macchiato, filtered coffee and cinnamon caffe latte. Customers were scarce at first, even from the nearby university.
But he kept his shop open in August, when traditional coffee bars usually close, to steal their regulars and for longer hours the rest of the year. Mr. Bardolla put pretty girls offering free coffee outside the university.
“This is what I call an ‘addictive business,’ ” says Mr. Bardolla, who claims the quality of his coffee is higher than what old-fashioned espresso bars. “After some time, people start to see paper cups around and they decide to give it a try.”
He now has three Arnold Coffee shops in Milan and one in Florence, with plans to open three more.
Last year, David Nathaniel opened a coffee shop called 12 Oz. in Milan that sells caramel-flavored cappuccino and sweetened hazelnut latte. “We Italians exported the consumption of espresso,” he says. “Now we’re importing a new way of drinking coffee.”
Starbucks announced Monday it will open its first store in Italy early next year. In a bow to tradition, Starbucks will serve a special espresso blend made to meet Italian tastes and install a traditional bar where customers can drink their brew while standing. At the same time, the Milan shop will stick with the Seattle company’s “Italian” menu descriptions and sweet coffee drinks.
Antonio Carpenito, 61, shudders at the thought of a Starbucks invasion. His coffee routine has been constant for decades and he brews his first espresso of the day with a beaten-up, stovetop coffee percolator known throughout Italy as a Moka pot.
He and his wife bought a coffee-pod Nespresso machine last year, but its espresso “gave me heartburn,” he says. They went back to the Moka.
At midmorning, Mr. Carpenito goes to his favorite espresso bar in Naples for another brew. The owner and other patrons greet him by name.
“That is not coffee,” he says about all the new coffee drinks. “It’s something else entirely.”


text:
M&S looking to buy Ocado and create £1bn food delivery service
- Credit: Archant
Marks and Spencer and Ocado are in talks to launch a £1bn food delivery service.
It has been reported that M&S is looking to buy the Waitrose part of the Ocado business, including distribution centres and vans, when the existing contract ends next year.
The news prompted shares in Ocado to gain 6.7%, surpassing 1,000p in early trading.
MORE: Norwich's online fashion retailer Miss Shoes tumbles into administration Meanwhile, M&S hit a high of 297.6p, up 2.6%.
The discussions have been ongoing over the past few weeks.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'Such a move would be another tick in the box for Ocado, which is adding relationships with supermarkets in several parts of the world.
MORE: Reports Tesco could cut thousands of jobs 'For Marks & Spencer, having a stronger delivery network would give it a new way in which to try and boost earnings. There is no guarantee this would be the magic solution to fix its declining profits but it would put the business on a more level pegging with some of its key competitors.'


text:
Even if you try, you cannot escape bitcoin hysteria these days. People across the world are debating the ability of bitcoin and blockchain technology to transform the way society functions, as if we are on the verge of a new epoch. Will bitcoin replace fiat money and erode trust in government currency? Will blockchain technology change how we transact with each other and usher in a new era in human organization?
Clues to these questions lie in how governments react to the rise of bitcoin and blockchain. The large-scale adoption of any new technology poses a challenge for regulators who want to guarantee the rule of law but not stifle innovation. In this regard, the UAE, as a small state invested in cutting-edge technology, presents an interesting test case.
But first, a brief description of how these innovations function. Blockchain is the technology that enables cryptocurrencies such as bitcoins. While it might sound complicated, blockchain is little more than an open-source digital ledger. Transactions take place in a ledger controlled by a global network of computers. Instead of a bank or government maintaining the ledger, this decentralized network of computers ensures that all transactions are made under conditions agreed upon by every party. All transactions are open source, and you can even watch bitcoin transactions as they happen live on the internet.
The computers verifying bitcoin transactions and thus maintaining the ledger are occasionally rewarded with new bitcoins in a practice called “mining.” This practice has given rise to miners all over the world eagerly trying to earn a bitcoin (which, at the time of writing, equals $8,155). Given the global computing power maintaining the ledger, one would require computing power that doesn’t currently exist to manipulate bitcoin transactions.
The result is a strong, trust-based system in which all transactions can be read and the ledger is virtually tamper-proof. Blockchain technology can be used for any trust-based transaction, from money exchange to land registration. The transactions are paperless, secure and instant.
So what does this have to do with the UAE? Given the UAE’s increasingly significant profile in global finance, authorities are focused on preventing any illicit financial activity. The country has worked closely with international financial institutions and other countries to ensure that any form of money laundering or tax evasion is stamped out. It is no wonder then that the government has taken a forceful line on cryptocurrencies such as bitcoins.
As a decentralized currency that enables users to trade anonymously, bitcoin poses a host of problems for government regulators. It is difficult to trade cryptocurrencies from the UAE, and the government bars its own citizens from buying or selling the assets. Such regulation makes sense for a country under the microscope of global finance, but it poses a challenge for the adoption of blockchain as a whole.
While financial authorities have effectively blocked cryptocurrencies, other parts of the UAE government have explored ways for blockchain to be incorporated into governance. The Dubai government has elaborate plans to use blockchain in everything from parking tickets to land deeds. Given the country’s commitment to technology on a state level, the incorporation of blockchain in government makes sense. Estonia, for example, has made waves for its innovative use of blockchain to store health records. Every citizen can access their health records online at any time. The data is secure and can be sent to doctors instantly, thanks to blockchain. A similar system in the UAE would be revolutionary.
Blockchain also has the power to revolutionize financial remittances, which is a critical facet of the UAE’s economy. The UAE-based telecommunications company Etisalat is already investing in blockchain-powered startups focused on remittance payments, such as Tokyo-based Telcoin. The startup uses cryptocurrencies to facilitate low-cost remittances that cut out traditional operators like Western Union. Customers are able to send funds from their mobile wallet to another mobile wallet for a fraction of what a traditional remittance operator would charge.
What you have is the promise and peril of a radical new technology. Blockchain is disrupting how transactions are processed and governments operate. The UAE has an opportunity to be at the forefront of these changes by embracing the positive aspects of these technologies – namely, government efficiency, digital governance and security – while ensuring security concerns are met. The ever-present danger is that regulators will stifle innovation through heavy handed actions that attempt to stamp out blockchain-enabled businesses and practices. The continued debate in the UAE around voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) calling, which has resulted in the blockage of popular platforms such as Skype, is a cautionary tale in this regard.
Blockchain might not change the world in the manner its creators had hoped, but it is certainly introducing a host of innovations that are changing how we live. Governments have an opportunity to embrace these changes by adapting to new systems and laws. Attempts to stifle innovation through the outright blocking of technology will only result in a long-term loss.
Joseph Dana, based between South Africa and the Middle East, is editor-in-chief of emerge85, a lab that explores change in emerging markets and its global impact.
AFP PHOTO/STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN


text:
As supermodel-turned-business-mogul Tyra Banks continues to expand her empire, she’s focusing on diversity and, in particular, hiring more women of color for her latest venture, Modelland.
Speaking on a panel at Time 100’s inaugural summit in New York Monday, Banks told the audience that not only is it important for her to hire women, but her team “understands it’s important to hire women of color,” as she strives to champion diversity in the workplace.
“I have that extra layer that is very specific for my team right now,” she said, adding that it’s also important for her to hire female writers of color on her production team.
And while women of color are at the top of her list right now, Banks has long been passionate about diversity and always on the lookout for a mix — “gay men, straight men, women and then women of color,” noting that she can tell a certain project in her company by the lens it comes through.
She believes for it to work, the message has to come from the top of companies: “I think it’s about mandates,” she explained. “I think if you have power, that is a platform that just wields so much control, and having the mandate — ‘this is this role, this is a cfo, we will find a woman, we will find a woman of color’ — and being very specific. It’s about being that pointed with it.”
Banks also recounted her struggles in her early modeling career in Milan when certain designers no longer wanted to hire her because her body had started to develop and become more womanly and how this shaped her view of diversity in her career.
“My mother showed me this list and I started to cry. I said ‘Mom I’m going to starve. I’ll eat salad all the time and I’ll run around the block constantly.” And she said ‘No, you know what we’re going to do? We’re going to go eat pizza,’” she told the audience.
There, her mother got a piece of paper and a pen and told her daughter, “Write down every client in this modeling industry that likes ass because I’ll be damned if my baby starves because of these b—hes.” She then came up with a plan for Banks’ modeling agency to call all those people.
As first reported by WWD, Banks is this year launching Modelland, a 21,000-square-foot, ticketed attraction creating a fantasy version of the modeling world, at Santa Monica Place shopping mall.
According to Banks, visitors will get to “be the dream version of themselves” through interactive entertainment, curated retail and user-generated content that can be shared.
“It’s my calling to bring modeling to the masses,” she said at the time. “I created ‘Top Model’ to expand the definition of beauty based on my own pain of being told ‘no’ that I couldn’t do something because I’m curvy or I’m black. My empathy for women in general increased through the experience. And now with Modelland, I’m taking it 10 steps forward, giving people the opportunity to engage with the elusive world by opening it up to everyone.”


text:
It might sound simple, but embracing change is the first step to success. And let’s be clear: publishers hold their own key to success. The question is, do they believe it?
Programmatic platforms have much more to offer publishers than the automation of their operations and workflow. While streamlined process efficiencies enabled by automation are certainly valuable from a cost-savings standpoint in 2015, we’ll begin to see programmatically-charged data empower publishers to boost the return they are getting for their inventory.
What is already apparent is that publishers are starting to move with the times and Condé Nast is a prime example of this. By fully embracing programmatic and merging its direct sales with its programmatic team, Condé Nast has reduced the conflict between the two channels and increased effectiveness through a steamlined process. Moves such as these demonstrate how publishers can fully embrace the future of programmatic, allowing the value of inventory to increase, and in turn, make them more desirable to potential ad buyers.
Northern & Shell is another publisher that has followed suit. This year alone, it has heavily invested in its CRM database, which will manage touch points for users across all content, whether it’s social media, on site or email. The move will allow Northern & Shell to reach its users through data segments, showing a huge transition towards its investment in programmatic.
At AOL, we’ve heard first hand that publishers are willing to make the jump to programmatic. In our definitive industry-wide study, Programmatic Futures: Where Culture Meets Code, 48 per cent of publishers told us that programmatic is allowing for better campaign integration across different media and platforms. Publishers now understand that being programmatic-savvy is the key to their business.
By leveraging sophisticated targeting, frequency capping, brand safety and other data-driven tools (traditionally thought of as 'buy side' technology) to more precisely identify and segment key audiences, publishers will be able to entice a greater number of premium brands to spend through programmatic channels. John Lewis, for example, achieved a media first for its 2013 Christmas campaign, with the first programmatic buy of a half-page format on RadioTimes.com, a historically strong fit for the brand.
Programmatic data optimisation capabilities can especially help mid to long-tail publishers capture more buyers. It means they can compete on the quality of the audience delivered rather than on name recognition alone.
Most recently a high-profile entertainment brand took over all display advertising alongside Big Brother content on Channel5.com. The large, impactful masthead, half page and mobile formats were bought programmatically across Channel 5’s desktop and mobile inventory to amplify the client’s TV advertising to second screeners whilst the show was on air. The brand also implemented a programmatic video campaign with pre-roll and in-banner ads in premium placements that reached an 88 per cent relevant audience.
To go back to our research, we found that 65 per cent of publishers agreed with the statement that they now spend more time talking about strategy and audiences as a result of programmatic. We know that as programmatic develops and is adopted more widely by the industry, it is essential for publishers to continue to build on their greatest asset: their audience profile.
Used on the sell side, programmatic technologies will continue to transition from being used as an 'efficiency/savings' assist to a dominant means of driving more effectiveness and better outcomes. Smart publishers will employ techniques like audience extension, re-targeting and more to augment their offerings.
We have seen examples of this from eBay, a forward thinking publisher in the programmatic space. Earlier this year, eBay announced it will sell mobile formats programmatically from the beginning of 2015, as it strives to create the best customer experience for its advertisers and users. We’ll begin to see the use of programmatic technologies allowing brands to add further value for their customers, including, but not limited to: more creativity, more innovation and bigger ideas.
To keep things simple, the publishers who can best plan, execute, analyse and report – across audiences, screens, ad formats, time of day and content types – will see the greatest ROI.
Advertising has moved beyond the testing stages within technology. Powered by data and programmatic platforms, we are rapidly moving one large step at a time into a future that is truly game changing.
Bob Lord is chief executive of AOL Platforms. You can follow him on Twitter @rwlord


text:
Spreading the blanket and firing up the grill aren't the only preparations for eating outside.
Spreading the blanket and firing up the grill aren’t the only preparations for eating outside.
People need to be aware of summer food-safety hazards and know that it’s better to be safe than sorry, experts say.
“We have to rely on food-safety practices in order to rely on safe food so people don’t get sick,” said Niki Lemin, the director of environmental health at Franklin County Public Health.
For example, it’s important to start with a clean grill, cook meat to the proper temperature and avoid cross-contamination.
“Many people don’t clean their grill. To me, it’s priority No. 1,” said Carolyn Barnaby, 83, of Westerville, who has been grilling for her family for more than 50 years.
Matt Schenk, the culinary program director at the Columbus Culinary Institute, said grills should be cleaned after each use.
Also important is using a meat thermometer, Schenk said. The correct technique, he said, is to “ pull the steak off the heat and put the thermometer in the side until you know it’s in the middle of it.”Barnaby agrees: “I like thermometers. It’s more accurate, of course, and you become a better cook that way.”To prevent cross-contamination, don’t put the cooked meat back on the same plate you used to carry it to the grill. It’s also important to wash utensils, serving dishes and hands when dealing with raw and cooked meat.Freelance chef James Fickle recommends using food-handling gloves and changing them when handling different kinds of meat and when switching from handling raw meat to prepared food. One warning from food-safety pros: Be careful with leftovers. Not everything will be good the next day or even a few hours later, no matter how long it’s warmed up or refrigerated.Food-safety experts say the magic number that food can be left sitting out before it goes bad is two hours. After that, it should be thrown out. For the safest results, they recommend preparing food right before it’s eaten.
“Time is your enemy,” said Kent Bradley, food-safety supervisor with Franklin County Public Health. “The more time you give, the more bacteria.”
A good rule of thumb, Lemin said, “is to “keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.”


text:
For fashion designing students Rishika Jain and Jaslene Kaur Wasu, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. The girls, who are pursuing their bachelors in fashion designing from Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), had the privilege of being the only students from Telangana to showcase their work at the recent New York Fashion Week (NYFW). Their creation was worn by a model at the coveted fashion event. In the run-up to show, the two also got a chance to travel to Mumbai to get professional help with the fittings.
“Working with Joseph Anthony Toronka (fashion stylist and art director) during the fitting sessions was a dream come true. We are grateful to our director Sanjay Saraswat and our faculty for trusting us with the opportunity to represent our country,” says Rishika.
The opportunity came their way because INIFD and London School of Trends (LST) have joined hands to put Indian fashion on the global map by celebrating the creativity of talented Indian students.
“We are fortunate to be a part of the collaboration that gave us the opportunity to participate in the NYFW to showcase our collection,” says Jaslene.
Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India in New York and other dignitaries were present at the event to support these young Indian designers.
Both Rishika and Jaslene nurtured an interest in fashion since childhood. “We loved to explore new things and were curious to help others match their accessories and look perfect,” they shared.
This clubbed with the interest they have in Indian culture, specifically Telangana, prompted them to work together. In fact, a collection of jackets and overcoats they designed were even shortlisted for the Lakme Fashion Week. The inspiration for the outfit they created for NYFW came from the Pochampally Ikat weaves of Telangana’s Bhoodan district. The outfit had a deep V-neckline with embroidered cap sleeves, including one-sided embellished skirt wrap merging with very subtle colour combinations. The traditional geometric patterns were accentuated with embroidery and decorative embellishments.
A mesmerising outfit is the fruit of hard labour and the duo needed a lot of patience while making theirs. “Fabric sourcing to attain the purest and richest form of the material was a strenuous task. Excellence comes from having vision and passion. We believe fashion is about living in now. That is why fashion continues to be viable for us,” they shared, adding that their ultimate goal is to become world-renowned designers.
After all, the baby step they’ve taken has given them a unique sneak peek into the world of high fashion.


text:
These Four Major Cities Want To Ban Diesel Vehicles
Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens all plan to do away with diesel cars by 2025.LEARN MORE
The automaker said it plans to have at least 20 new all-electric vehicles in its lineup by 2023.
General Motors is going full-throttle with all-electric cars.
The automaker plans to roll out two new all-electric vehicles in the next 18 months. By the year 2023, it aims to have at least 20 in its lineup.
GM already makes the Chevrolet Bolt EV, an all-electric vehicle that can go an estimated 238 miles on a single charge.
But a Bloomberg report from late 2016 hinted GM might actually be losing money on each Bolt it sells. If that's true, why would it focus even more on electric vehicles?
Countries like France, the U.K. and India all plan to ban the sale of diesel and gas-burning vehicles over the next several decades. In the U.S., officials in California are considering a similar ban.
And China actually set future electric car quotas for automakers who import or produce more than 30,000 fossil-fuel vehicles.
GM's announcement comes as other major automakers — like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volvo — are focusing heavily on growing their electric offerings.
Last month, the company announced more than 15,000 accounts had been impacted by a first breach that included fraudulent purchases in some cases.
Google called it a "short-term test" seemingly in response to a bill that could force the company to pay news organizations for sharing their content.
The short-term rental company wants more tenants to be able to host their homes to guests for supplemental income, not just homeowners.
The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center forecast hail, flash floods and possible tornadoes in Kansas and Nebraska.
A Gallup poll found 57% of Americans think more sleep could improve their state of being, which is a stark difference from its previous data.
France expects to hold the games' opening ceremony in an unusual open-air setting on the River Seine, which may bring unique security problems.


text:
New Mexico's Doug Fine, author of "Too High To Fail."
Fred Martino interviews New Mexico's Doug Fine, author of "Too High To Fail." Fine discuss his book, which includes his account of living in Mendocino, California, where marijuana was being produced for medical use. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
The nation’s economy is in trouble, but there’s one cash crop that has the potential to turn it around: cannabis (also known as marijuana and hemp). According to Time, the legal medicinal cannabis economy already generates $200 million annually in taxable proceeds from a mere two hundred thousand registered medical users in just fourteen states.
But, thanks to Nixon and the War on Drugs, cannabis is still synonymous with heroin on the federal level even though it has won mainstream acceptance nationwide.
ABC News reports that underground cannabis’s $35.8 billion annual revenues already exceed the combined value of corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat ($7.5 billion). Considering the economic impact of Prohibition—and its repeal—Too High to Fail isn’t a commune-dweller’s utopian rant, it’s an objectively (if humorously) reported account of how one plant can drastically change the shape of our country, culturally, politically, and economically.
Too High to Fail covers everything from a brief history of hemp to an insider’s perspective on a growing season in Mendocino County, where cannabis drives 80 percent of the economy (to the tune of $6 billion annually). Investigative journalist Doug Fine follows one plant from seed to patient in the first American county to fully legalize and regulate cannabis farming. He profiles an issue of critical importance to lawmakers, media pundits, and ordinary Americans—whether or not they inhale. It’s a wild ride that includes swooping helicopters, college tuitions paid with cash, cannabis-friendly sheriffs, and never-before-gained access to the world of the emerging legitimate, taxpaying “ganjaprenneur.”
Fred Martino interviews New Mexico's Doug Fine, author of "Too High To Fail." Fine discuss his book, which includes his account of living in Mendocino, California, where marijuana was being produced for medical use.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
|Posted by CRA-Z on March 16, 2013 at 12:07 AM||3630 Views|


text:
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California found a possible link between chemicals found in your kitchen cookware that could increase the risk of liver cancer.
Researchers said that after conducting animal studies, they found that artificial chemicals called perfluooctane sulfate (PFAS) are incredibly harmful to the liver.
The study is also the first to confirm the presence of samples taken from humans.
They found that people exposed the most to these chemicals have a risk 4.5 times higher of getting non-viral hepatocellular carcinoma, a common liver cancer, than those who are less exposed.
According to the study published Monday in JHEP Reports, these "forever chemicals" have been widely used in industry and consumer products for more than 60 years.


text:
Every New Year comes with different plans. For some, they have to look good throughout the year. We are equally in a season where most people are crying that the current inflation is weighing down on their pockets.
These beautiful gowns, evening wears and dresses for all occasions were displayed by students of JACCD Design Institute Africa at their 27th graduation ceremony held recently at the school’s North Legon premises in Accra.
When it comes to rocking the stage looking well dressed, you can't take it away from our female gospel musicians. They are always on point with their outfits whether on stage or on the screens singing.
The Christmas season is here and you cannot afford to be shabbily dressed. No matter the situation you find yourself in, you have to go to church, dinner, date, party or any of the events lined up in your best.
Multiple-award-winning Ghanaian fashion brand, Selina Beb participated in the 19th Annual Columbia Africa Conference’s Fashion Extravaganza held at Columbia University Business School in New York recently.


text:
After getting the most new Supercharger locations of any province in Canada in the annual update from Tesla, Quebec can add one more to the list in Boisbriand.
According to pictures posted to the Tesla Model 3 Quebec Facebook group (via TMC), the new Supercharger is already under construction. It is difficult to tell from the photos how many stalls there will be, but it appears as though it will have 6-8 V3 Superchargers.
The new Supercharger is locations at 2605 Rue d’Annemasse, Boisbriand, in the parking lot of the IGA supermarket.
Earlier this week Tesla announced nearly 40 new Supercharger stations for Canada. Many of them were placed along strategic routes, like connecting the northern part of B.C. along Highway 97.
Boisbriand was not on the list of locations for Quebec, which included two in the northern part of the province in Rouyn-Nouranda and Val d’Or.


text:
Kid Rock spotted sipping Bud Light after shooting cans in transphobic tantrum
Self-proclaimed “anti-woke” musician Kid Rock has been pictured allegedly drinking a can of Bud Light – mere months after he shot at cases of the beer in a transphobic rage.
Kid Rock was part of the hysterical right-wing boycott of Bud Light after the company partnered with trans TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney.
Back in April, Kid Rock said “f**ck Bud Light and f***k Anheuser-Busch” as he filmed himself shooting cases of the beer with an assault-style rifle, but just four months later, he is reportedly sipping Bud Light once again, according to photos shared by TMZ.
Kid Rock was pictured at a Colt Ford concert in Nashville on Thursday (17 August) drinking a can of what appears to be Bud Light.
You may like to watch
Now, conservatives have come to the defence of Kid Rock over the ‘crime’ of drinking Bud Light again.
Nick Adams, a self-described “alpha male” author endorsed by indicted former president Donald Trump, went to the effort of putting out a statement, saying he “takes this allegation seriously” and is in “close contact” with his “sources on the ground”.
Adams told his followers that Kid Rock “will be considered innocent until proven guilty”.
Sales of Bud Light reportedly fell after the one-time social media post with Mulvaney.
At the beginning of August, parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev said sales in the US had dropped more than five per cent since last year.
The boycott hasn’t reached beyond the US however, as Budweiser sales rose by nearly 17 per cent since 2022. The company has said that performance has been better than analysts expected.
Mulvaney has criticised the company for failing to “stand by” her after she faced an intense and hysterical transphobic backlash.
She said the reaction made her too afraid to leave the house and caused “a loneliness I wouldn’t wish on anyone”.
“What transpired from that video was more bullying and transphobia than I could have ever imagined… I was waiting for the brand to reach out to me, but they never did,” the trans influencer continued.
“For a company to hire a trans person, then not publicly stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all.”
Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch Light and Bud Light Lime are all still available at Kid Rock’s bar in Nashville, according to the menu available online.
MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.


text:
EU Industry Decries Price Cuts And Clawbacks
Report Demonstrates Need For Pricing And Reimbursement Reform
A detailed report published by Medicines for Europe setting out policies affecting the off-patent industry across 22 European countries demonstrates the urgent need for pricing and reimbursement and procurement reforms, the association insists.
You may also be interested in...
Ahead of an upcoming European Council meeting covering the EU’s industrial policy and ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicines for Europe has set out what it sees as key policy objectives to consider.
The European Commission’s newly-published Pharmaceutical Strategy features a range of proposals related to generics and biosimilars, including “targeted policies” to improve competition, remove barriers and increase uptake.
Amgen has confirmed its long-awaited launch of Amjevita, the first US biosimilar rival to Humira, kicking off a year of competition that will also see a second wave of adalimumab products launch in six months’ time. The company has announced that it will offer the product at a 55% discount to the originator.


text:
It looks like we're in store for a lot of fun when it comes to Millie Mackintosh's holiday.
Because it's still only day one and the 25-year-old has already changed into her second bikini.
That's right, despite looking drop dead gorgeous in a high-waisted leopard print number this morning , the brunette still decided to slip into something a little different.
And if we're being honest, we can't say we mind this bright yellow number too much either. Good call, Millie.
The former Made In Chelsea star continued to share snaps of her vacation in Dubai with her 800,000 Instagram followers .
Her latest shot features the reality TV star hand-in-hand with bestie Zara Martin while the two prepare for a dip in the sea.
She amusingly captioned it: "Sandy beach bums @zaramartin #bff #mackmaradventures."
Well what can we say, we've all been there.
It's semi-surprising to see Millie switch her swimwear because we know she has no qualms about wearing the same outfit twice.
Only last month the wife of Professor Green wore the same leather trousers twice in a matter of days .
However it might not be long until the make-up artist turned fashion designer completely overhauls her wardrobe and stocks it up with maternity wear.
The stunner has made no secret about wanting to start a family and has even revealed that her and her rapper husband have baby names picked out .


text:
Sydney-based “internet of things” energy management company Wattwatchers has been named as one of two winners of this year’s Australian Technology Competition, in a ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday night.
Wattwatchers, developer of the web-based real time energy management Auditor device, took out the New Energy Award for 2016, while Melbourne-based company Independent Products won the Smart Cities Award for its ultra energy efficient air conditioner retrofit technology.
Independent Products’ technology uses the waste-water created by air conditioners to improve energy efficiency by up to 40 per cent, and can be retrofitted to most existing split system air-con and refrigeration units.
Competition organiser John O’Brien said both winners were chosen by judges for their world-leading Australian inventions combined with strong commercial acumen and significant global potential.
Judges described Wattwatchers’ Auditor as “a well developed solution for which there is a clear market need.
They also commended the company for providing data and control to its users in “a sophisticated and accessible way,” and for its credible global strategy.
Part of this strategy has been the recent appointment of 10-year smart meter veteran Gavin Dietz as Wattwatcher’s new managing director in July this year.
As we wrote then, Dietz’s appointment comes at a critical time, both for the company and for the nascent Australian market for the “internet of things,” which many believe will be key to the transition to an energy market where consumers are engaged and want to make the most of opportunities to save money through energy efficiency, rooftop solar and battery storage.
“I strongly believe that if we give consumers access to real time data they will reduce their energy consumption significantly – either to be green or to save money,” Dietz told RenewEconomy in an interview.
“That’s what we expected to come out of the smart meter space, but it hasn’t broken out of the regulated space. We haven’t seen anyone truly empower the customer in that way,” he said. “All the pieces of the puzzle exist these days, but no one is putting them together.
As the ATC judges said, “It will be exciting to watch the company’s growth.”
Independent Products’ offering, meanwhile, was described by the judges as “a simple, ingenious technology” that was proven as a viable retrofit solution.
They said the global market for retrofit air-con efficiency was “significant” and that the company had developed a strong strategy to work with global partners.
The two winners will now go on to compete in the national finals in Sydney on November 2, against technologies from other sectors, at which the Australian Technology Company of the Year will be announced.
Previous winners of the Australian Technology Competition, now in its sixth year, include BluGlass, Enlighten Australia and SMAC Technologies.
Supporters and partners for the 2016 program include the federal government’s Industry Growth Centres, the NSW Department of Industry, National Energy and Resources Australia (NERA) and industry associations including AustMine, AusBiotech, AMTIL and the Facilities Management Association.
In addition, export opportunities are provided through the support of UK Department for International Trade and the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council. For further information on the Australian Technologies Competition visit www.austechcomp.com


text:
Quantum of the Seas: The World’s First Smart Ship?
Along with the rest of the media hype surrounding the imminent release of Quantum of the Seas – the biggest cruise ship the world has ever seen – onto open water in November, comes the revelation that it will also be the world’s first ‘Smart Ship’.
Royal Caribbean have announced that the reason behind the new moniker is the brand new technology that will be available on-board – more than on any cruise ship ever created, and some technology which will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
The cruise line have also announced that the ‘Smart Ship’ experience begins with the fastest Internet access at sea ever. Internet speeds on cruise ships are notoriously slow, so this will be refreshing for crew and passengers alike, with Royal Caribbean claiming that passengers will be able to remain connected to the Internet at much higher speeds for longer periods of time during the entire cruise. This higher bandwidth allows passengers to use computers and smart phones alongside a new interactive bracelet that each passenger to the ship will be issued with upon their embarkation.
This new bracelet has a customised radio frequency identification band made of rubber, which may not sound like much but actually, it contains all of the smart electronics that allow you to be permanently connected to the ship’s network and Internet. It will also replace the current magnetic ID key cards most ships use to gain statesroom access, dining and shore excursion reservations and on-board purchases, without the risk of the band de-magnetising.
On top of all this, a new software app for smartphones will be available to all network devices called ‘Royal IQ’. This tracks the ID, statesrooms, preferences and reservations of each passengers, as well as providing the individual with the ship’s daily schedules of events and maps of the ship at a quick press of a button. The bracelets also link in with this – a tap of the finger will activate the bracelets and allow guests to interact exclusively with the ‘Royal IQ’ software located at digital screens throughout the ship using hand signals and gestures alone.
Please note, Holidaysafe's online prices automatically include a 15% discount against our Customer Service Centre prices.


text:
The Reason Ivanka Trump Is In India Is Making People Angry
Her father just returned from a tour of Asia, and now it's Ivanka Trump's turn to represent the U.S. on the world stage. President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump is in India this week for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), where she'll speak about women's empowerment. It's causing a lot of heads to turn, and not in a good way.
From Nov. 28-30, the U.S. and Indian governments are co-hosting the GES 2017, set in Hyderabad in southern India. The summit, which is now in its eighth year, is themed "Women First, Prosperity For All." The annual gathering bills itself as a convention of investors, supporters, and entrepreneurs, and this year, the aim is to empower women to gain skills and secure support for their ideas. Per the State Department, Trump, who is leading the U.S. delegation, will be speaking at events Tuesday and Wednesday focusing on women's skills development, workforce participation, and entrepreneurship.
"Women still face steep obstacles to starting, owning and growing their businesses. We must ensure women entrepreneurs have access to capital, access to networks and mentors," Trump said Tuesday at a GES event.
Yet Trump's starring role in the summit is causing a lot of backlash. Criticism of Trump's arrival in India began a few weeks ago. On Nov. 8, it was reported by the Indian Express the city had already begun clearing out its homeless to beautify Hyderabad for her visit, with some 6,000 beggars in total being taken to prison rehabilitation centers.
The Washington Post reports that stray dogs seem to have vanished from the streets, and that the city also spent $.185 million just on road repairs prior to the visit. The improvements prompted some locals to express appreciation for the first daughter's visit was resulting in much-needed maintenance.
It also appears that Hyderabad underwent more pleasant preparations for Trump's visit, painting a freeway bridge in rainbow colors that she would see when she passed by, according to the Post.
But by far, the biggest thorn in Trump's side this trip is criticism over her role in promoting women's empowerment when her own clothing brand has been found to do the opposite.
In July 2017, the Post detailed in a lengthy report how factory workers making Ivanka Trump brand garments worldwide — India included — were receiving low pay, in some cases so underpaid they couldn't afford to care for their children. This news followed a June report that workers making Trump's shoes in China were being abused. G-III, an apparel company that manufactures Trump's products, has declined to disclose which particular factories it employs for production.
Abigail Klem, president of the Ivanka brand, said in a statement in June that "branded products have not been produced at the factory in question since March, the integrity of our supply chain is a top priority and we take all allegations very seriously."
"Ivanka Trump is set to promote women empowerment in India. Yet she won't talk about female workers who make her clothes here for $4 a day," tweeted Washington Post India Bureau Chief Annie Gowen.
Trump, serving as an advisor to her father, no longer helms the day-to-day operations of the company. Yet she is still largely being held to the measuring stick. A group of labor rights activists this month wrote a letter to Trump urging her to use her position to improve the standards for workers worldwide, joining a larger chorus of critics who argue she should be doing more to support them.
"Ivanka Trump says in India speech, 'We are committed to supporting women, and men, who work, inside and outside of the home.' Says nothing about the women and men working to make her clothes," tweeted Post reporter Drew Harwell.
However, as an attorney for Trump told the Post earlier this year, she "has been advised that she cannot ask the government to act in an issue involving the brand in any way, constraining her ability to intervene personally.”
But for the moment, if the criticism has gotten to her, she's not letting it show on her social media profile. She's been posting about the summit on Instagram and Twitter since last week.
What Trump will do with all this criticism is anyone's guess. As a self-proclaimed advocate for women's rights and empowerment, making those chief items on her political agenda, it's difficult to imagine she won't have to reckon with her own company's role in mistreating female employees.


text:
Swedish fintech Brite Payments has unveiled its latest offering – the Brite Instant Payments Network (IPN). This proprietary network leverages the power of open banking to provide businesses and merchants with a ready-to-use solution for instant payments and payouts.
The adoption of open banking payments has been steadily increasing across Europe, as businesses recognise the operational and cost benefits while appreciating the convenience and security they offer customers.
But according to Lena Hackelöer, founder & CEO of Brite Payments, the full potential of open banking payments is yet to be realised. She suggests there is a need for easily integrable products that provide immediate value to businesses.
“Brite IPN is the ‘engine’ that enables us to process payments instantly and equip businesses with a true out-of-the-box solution,” said Hackelöer. We have been building our next-generation proprietary network since Brite was founded in 2019, and I am excited to announce Brite IPN as a significant step forward in our mission to support merchants and businesses with a faster, more convenient, and secure open banking payments solution.”
Brite’s IPN enables 24/7/365 instant payments processing, while helping address the limitations of SEPA Instant and the fragmented nature of real-time payments in Europe. Additionally, Brite IPN enables instant payments and payouts in markets and currencies outside the Eurozone.”
It powers instant payments and payouts products that offer merchants advantages over traditional open banking payments (such as Payment Initiation Services) by taking full receipt of incoming funds and settling them rapidly on behalf of merchants across Europe. Supported by Brite IPN’s merchant FX capabilities, merchants can also fund or request settlement in a currency of their choice.
The launch of Brite IPN follows “significant growth over the past year, with the second-generation fintech more than doubling revenue and transaction volume” on its platform in 2022, and increasing its headcount by nearly 100 per cent during this period..


text:
Digerati50: Rickson Goh finds a detour for Tourplus
By Dzof Azmi December 12, 2021
- Having entrepreneur’s mindset since age 14 means not giving up so easily
- Expansion into the Chinese market delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic
Digital News Asia (DNA) continues its series that profiles 50 influencers who are helping shape Malaysia’s Digital Economy, from Digerati50 2020-2021 (Vol 4), a special biennial print publication released in July 2020. The digital copy can be downloaded from the sidebar link.
The following in an expanded version of the article which first appeared in print edition in June 2020.
Being a tech entrepreneur is perhaps something Rickson Goh was destined for. At 14 he created a website for his school serving more than 20,000 users. It didn’t have a business model, but it did eventually see 3,000 users a day.
It’s no surprise, then, that Rickson would take an idea he had while studying at the Queensland University of Technology in 2012 into fruition. He had formed a team of four to start work on an app that can automate the entire process of travelling, from itinerary planning to transportation booking.
That became the basis of his startup, Tourplus Technology Sdn Bhd, though it ended up being an idea that took a while to bear. Upon graduation, Rickson found himself working at Maybank Group’s Strategy & Transformation Department, reporting directly to the CEO. The experience helped him understood how businesses and technology can work together.
Tourplus would eventually surface in 2015 as a virtual travel assistance that also allowed people to share their customised itineraries. That’s when Rickson realised a limitation to his original idea – it didn’t have a strong business model.
Having an entrepreneur’s mindset since he was 14 means that Rickson wasn’t giving up so easily. While the initial two years of Tourplus was difficult, it wasn’t for naught – Rickson noticed that users were asking about how they could get around to the spots they wanted to visit. They asked about transportation, and guides to share local and cultural contexts.
Rickson made his first pivot in 2017, focusing on a web model that allows travellers to make inquiries through a website and subsequently matching guides and trips there. In 2018, he released an app for tour guides to receive bookings for their services, including airport pickups.
That eventually became one of the key services of Tourplus. “Our main product is the day/multiday tours targeted at families and friends travelling in groups of more than four people where they can book larger vehicles for their tours which ends up being cheaper as well,” he says.
But it’s the fact that you can personalised your multi-day tours is what sets Tourplus apart. Rickson recognises that travellers are increasingly more independent and prefer to travel at their own pace. With Tourplus, they can essentially personalised their own tours, with Tourplus matching their destinations with the right local guides.
This time, the idea proved successful, netting Tourplus the “Top Digital Tourism” Award at the World Top Tourism Awards in 2019. In December 2019, the startup announced that it had raised a US$400,000 (RM1.7 million) pre-seed round from China-based accelerator SOSV and a Chinese angel investor in the travel space.
The funding was actually raised months earlier when Tourplus was accepted by SOSV into its accelerator programme and received a US$150,000 investment from the accelerator. During the three month programme, Tourplus was exposed to some angel investors, one of whom invested US$250,000.
[RM1 = US$0.237]
Tourplus isn’t just changing the way people travel, but also helping the community of local tour guides. For one, Rickson and his team are constantly working with industry players and local ministries to identify new travel trends. Tourplus is also providing much-needed transparency and trust to local tours, which are not usually carried out by licensed tour guides. The app, however, provides detailed travel itineraries and guides that are verified and curated by Tourplus.
Tourplus had over 2,700 licensed tour guides around Southeast Asia as at end May 2020.
2020 – the big year that was hit by a pandemic
2020 was supposed to be a big year for Tourplus. As it is Visit Malaysia 2020, Tourplus is set to facilitate the travels of various tourists to the country – it even signed a strategic partnership with Oversea Chinese Media and Communications Co Ltd to promote Malaysian tourism to Chinese tourists.
This expansion into the Chinese market had to be delayed, however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ever resilient to change, Rickson made a temporary pivot in order to keep Tourplus relevant. His biggest concern was helping the local tour guides under their platform to stay afloat during the tourism downturn.
He collaborated with frozen food companies which were also affected by the pandemic, as the establishments they distribute to – hotels, restaurants, wedding receptions – were either closed or reducing their orders.
These frozen food suppliers, which primarily operate on a B2B model, had to supply to customers directly in order to survive. The challenge, however, is that they never had logistical capabilities to distribute directly to customers.
Here is where Tourplus’ network of guides came in. Stationed across the nation, including secondary cities like Taiping and Muar, these guides did not have an income stream now, but they did have transportation. Through this collaboration with the frozen food suppliers, Tourplus would serve as a distributor while the guides served as agents.
“This is a challenge for us, and completely different from what we have done before,” Rickson says. “It’s not our core business, but we need to do what we can to survive. It’s basically a new startup – one that we built upon our own basic understanding and resources.”
[Ed: The business was closed a few months later in Nov 2020 due to the cold chain requirements of moving frozen food.]
Rickson, however, still wants to return to the travel industry. “People will still be travelling, but it will be mostly localised. For our guide business, it will be a challenge, because Malaysians won’t have transportation issues that they need to solve unlike foreign tourists,” he notes.
Yet, there will be a demand for local travellers seeking to hire larger transportation modes for their own travel itinerary – a gap that Tourplus can fill. At the same time, Rickson predicts that business travel will resume faster than leisure travels, an aspect Tourplus can also help with.
Rickson and Tourplus have seen ups and downs, yet they’ve managed to adapt and evolve when need be. Not all travel plans go smoothly, after all.
[Ed: Read this update on Tourplus from Aug 2021: Rickson Goh shows how you deal with a pandemic]
Digerati50 2020/2021 is proudly sponsored by Maxis - Powering Malaysia's 5G era.
Related Stories :


text:
Weakness in cyclicals offset a better showing in mega-cap growth stocks to weaken most major stock indexes Tuesday, though the NASDAQ outperformed. The Dow Jones industrial index declined 0.8 percent, the S&P 500 slipped 0.3 percent, while the NASDAQ rose 0.6 percent.
Worrisome Covid-19 news and lack of progress in US fiscal talks dampened hopes for recovery and kept cyclicals on the defensive. Financials, industrials, and energy were among the day's worst performers.
Caterpillar, down 3.2 percent, and 3M, down 3.1 percent, topped market expectations but could not furnish earnings guidance in light of pandemic uncertainties. Stanley Black & Decker was off 3.8 percent despite an earnings beat. Airlines were hit by virus worries, with American Airlines off 4.8 percent and Delta down 3.9 percent.
Technology stocks outperformed led by chipmaker Xilinx, up 8.6 percent after news it will be acquired by Advanced Micro Devices. Mega-caps limited the overall declines, with Facebook up 2.2 percent, Google up 0.9 percent, and Apple up 1.4 percent. Amazon rose 2.5 percent and Zoom Video rose 4.1 percent, as they are viewed as benefiting from the stay-at-home trade.
These price data reflect observations at 4:00 PM US ET: Dated Brent spot crude oil rose 81 cents to US$41.14 while spot gold rose US$5.38 to US$1,907.65. The US dollar declined against most major currencies. The US Treasury 30-year bond yield fell 3 basis points to 1.56 percent while the 10-year note yield was down 3 basis points at 0.78 percent.
Rising coronavirus infections and hospitalizations in the US and Europe hit equities again Tuesday. The Europe-wide STOXX 600 fell 1.0 percent, the German DAX lost 0.9 percent, the French CAC dropped 1.8 percent, and the UK FTSE-100 was down 1.1 percent.
Record increases in Covid-19 cases and political conflict over new lockdown measures in the UK, Italy, France, and elsewhere added to risk-off pressure. Among sectors, autos, energy, and retail lagged the most, while technology, chemicals, and personal & household goods held up best.
Among companies reporting, HSBC rose 3.4 percent after topping earnings and revenues expectations, and suggesting the outlook is improving. Capgemini, the French consulting and technology firm, rose 2.1 percent as revenues accelerated on rising demand for cloud and digital services.
On the downside, Banco Santander declined 1.5 percent despite earnings and revenues beats, reflecting the broader market selloff. BP declined 1.7 percent after reporting better than expected though still dismal results, and warning of uncertain market conditions. Novartis declined 2.9 percent after a revenues miss. Rolls-Royce declined 3.1 percent amid reports of pending staff layoffs.
Most major Asian markets closed lower or were little changed Tuesday after losses on Wall Street Monday. Australia's All Ordinaries index fell particularly sharply, closing down 1.8 percent on the day, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 0.6 percent despite strong gains in shares of major bank HSBC. Moves elsewhere were more subdued. Japan's Nikkei and Topix was unchanged and down 0.1 percent respectively, while the Shanghai Composite index closed up 0.1 percent.
New Zealand's merchandise trade balance deficit widened from NZ$282 million in August to NZ$1,017 million in September. Exports of goods fell 8.0 percent on the year in after increasing 8.6 percent in August, largely driven by weaker dairy exports and weak demand across most major trading partners, including China, Australia, Japan, and the European Union. Imports of goods fell 11.4 percent on the year in September after a decline of 17.7 percent in August.
On Tuesday in Asia/Pacific, the Australian CPI report is scheduled. In Europe, the Italian PPI report is due. In North America, the Bank of Canada policy announcement is scheduled, along with reports on US international trade in goods and US retail and wholesale inventories.


text:
You now have a new exciting way to shop online, thanks to Kamdora.
Kamdora is a members-only website where every week, stylists put together collections of fabulous items exclusively available to Kamdora members. The collections are typically only available to be bought for a few days or until the limited quantities available run out which can be within a few hours.
The collections currently available as part of the soft launch include summer dresses, cocktail dresses, blazers, skirt-suits and tops from a variety of European and American designers including Tahari ASL, MiuMiu, Versace, Jones New York and Evan Piccone. Already over 1500 people have joined the site in its first week based on word of mouth.
Kamdora is looking forward to featuring collections from Nigerian designers in the next few weeks.
Kamdora offers free delivery of items within Lagos and customers can pay online or cash upon delivery. If customers don’t like the items they receive for whatever reason, they can return the items to receive a full refund.
‘This type of shopping is really new even in Europe and America. We felt it would really appeal to fashion-loving Nigerians. We aim to give our members something exciting to look forward to every week’, said Wemimo Adekanola, Kamdora’s project manager.
Membership on Kamdora is free of charge so interested fashionistas only need to go to Kamdora.com to sign up!
Go to www.Kamdora.com to check out what’s on sale now.
Ghanaian screen goddess, Nadia Buari who received two nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2007 and ... Full story
How well do we know our friends?This is just so disheartening..How can you kill your bestfriend, dump his body and take his car,register in your ... Full story
Fashion Faceoff: Monalisa Chinda and Ini Edo Red Carpet Photo ... Full story
Professor Aize Obayan, a former Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota has been suspended from her position as director of the Education Commission of the ... Full story
Recent information being filtered around about the actress and hubby is untrue. The couple has been married for almost two years now and as is ... Full story
For the majority of Nollywood fans at the inception of this vibrant industry, the mainstay star actor was Ramsey Nouah. Anything that was attributed to, ... Full story
Mrs Jalade was in the United States of America few weeks ago where she spent close to a month and travelled back to Nigeria about ... Full story


text:
Grandpoint Bank has completed its acquisition of Gilmore Bank in La Canada-Flintridge.
Reverse auction firm Bid4Spots has expanded its marketplace for radio airtime to the United Kingdom, the company announced.
Marcus & Millichap Inc. has acquired Canadian real estate firm Primecorp Commercial Realty Inc., the Calabasas brokerage announced Monday.
Telus Communications Inc., a major wireless communications provider in Canada, has acquired Xavient Information Systems Inc. in Simi Valley. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
AFEX, a Woodland Hills provider of cross-border payment services for businesses, has purchased Jameson Bank in Toronto
Sport Chalet Inc. shareholders have approved a $70 million acquisition of the La Canada Flintridge retailer by a Connecticut sporting goods company, the companies announced Monday.
Isaac Larian, chief executive of Van Nuys toy manufacturer MGA Entertainment Inc., has along with unnamed investors pledged $200 million to an online public crowdfunding campaign he created to save Toy R Us as it files for bankruptcy.
Pasadena’s Huntington Orthopedics Surgical Medical Group has bought its second building in the past year near Huntington Hospital.
Commercial real estate brokerage Avison Young (Canada) Inc. in Los Angeles said it has negotiated the $15.4 million sale of a Glendale television studio.
TECH: Location is expected to ‘springboard’ international growth for company, CEO says.
Providea Conferencing LLC opens its first office outside the U.S.
Advanced Media Training Inc. has changed its corporate name to DeMatco Inc., the company has announced.
Shares of ValueClick Inc. rose more than 8 percent Monday after one analyst upgraded the stock and another initiated coverage with a “buy” rating.
A San Francisco financier in alternative energy has acquired a Tehachapi wind farm which has a power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Universal Pictures is setting up separate operating companies for home-entertainment distribution in the U.S. and Canada, according to media reports on Friday
As part of a growing industry-wide battle to cope with runaway film production, Arleta-based special effects firm MastersFX Inc. has opened a second studio in Vancouver, B.C.
Dine Brands International has entered into a franchising agreement with construction firm Minhas Holdings, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, to bring more than a dozen IHOP diners to the Toronto market.
Shares of Kythera Biopharmaceuticals Inc. skyrocketed 25 percent on Tuesday after the Calabasas biotech announced positive clinical trial results for its lead pipeline drug that reduces double chins.
Toys R Us has rejected MGA Entertainment Inc. Chief Executive Isaac Larian’s $890 million dollar bid to acquire some of the bankrupt retailer’s stores in the U.S. and Canada, according to media reports.
Online: National Positions offers mobile marketing, SEO and social media services.
SPOTLIGHT - Online advertising & SEO Companies: National Positions
Considering recent history, it seems an odd time for a sporting-goods chain to go on an expansion drive in Southern California. But that isn't stopping Sport Chalet.


text:
Man and man’s best friend are being credited in the arrest of a suspected thief, who is accused of stealing two vehicles and numerous household items from a Nanaimo home.
On Aug. 8, residents of a home on Melodi Wood Way returned from a vacation to discover that their home had been ransacked and their vehicles stolen. The couple then reported the incident to Nanaimo RCMP, who were able to make an arrest the following day, thanks to an alert off-duty officer.
RCMP have charged Shawn Weldon, 39, with break and enter and vehicle theft after an off-duty officer discovered him driving one of the two stolen vehicles. Police, with the help of police dog Boomer and his handler Const. Clay Wurzinger, arrested Weldon after a short chase. Weldon was taken to hospital where he received three stitches for dog bites.
Following the arrest, RCMP searched a home on Malaspina Drive, where they recovered nearly $15,000 of home electronics, sporting goods, computer equipment, clothing and appliances, which are believed to have been from the home on Melodi Wood Way. An adult female was arrested at the home and later released.
“The home owners are extremely grateful to have their items and vehicles returned to them,” Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said in a press release. “In hindsight, the homeowners realize they should have hid their vehicle keys or given them to a friend or trusting neighbour. Their vehicle keys were left in a conspicuous location and were easily detected and used to steal their vehicles.”
Police credit the home owners for immediately reporting the incident and not entering their home, which preserved key forensic evidence.


text: The Hungarian Government wants to enhance its trade and economic relations with Pakistan as Hungary is considering exploring new trade markets with the concept of expanding the sphere of its trade for enhancing its business activities. Hungarian Ambassador in Pakistan, Istvan Szabo made these remarks while addressing at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). He has said that Hungary and Pakistan are enjoying cordial relations and are making adequate efforts to improve further bilateral economic relations. He said that Hungary had invested $1.4 billion in energy sector in Pakistan while volume of trade was $56 million in preceding year. The Ambassador said that MOL is the biggest Hungarian company in Pakistan engaged in oil, which is catering to 14 percent needs of Pakistan and providing jobs to around 600 people. He informed the meeting that Hungarian Government has taken the initiative to establish a school with the cooperation of MOL Pakistan which was aimed at brightening up the future of children of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. István Szabó said that Schengen visa for businessmen could be applied through Hungarian Embassy in Islamabad, however, businessmen after visiting Hungary can also visit Schengen states. Speaking on the occasion, Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Shirani, President FPCCI said that there was a wide scope for economic cooperation between the two countries in various areas as both the countries have their own strengths that should be tapped.


text:
- Now we have Chinese partners again. According to them, the growth of milk consumption in China is more dynamic at present than before the coronavirus. The situation with the pandemic has convinced them that they need to consume more milk and dairy products, - said Stefan Duerr, quoted by The DairyNews.
According to the expert, exchange-traded products, including milk powder, are important for export. However, in these categories, the Russian Federation has no competitive advantages other than price.
- If we sell three kopecks cheaper than New Zealand, our milk powder will be bought. There is a prospect in the sector of products with a long shelf life. We have a certain advantage - we are not so far from China and can supply products with shorter shelf life, which is well perceived by the consumer. For example, up to 30 days, - said Stefan Duerr.
He also stressed that China will never be able to fully provide itself with milk. At least because they can't provide cows with forages.
Read the full review and comments of experts on the topic of exports to China at the link.


text:
A Local art shop that is located in Kuta on Jalan Bisma Number 40C caught on fire on Friday morning (6/8), resulting in the owner losing thousands of dollars.
The Head of the Denpasar Public Relation Officer, Iptu I Ketut Sukadi confirmed that the incident occurred on Friday morning around 11:00am. The fire caused the local vendor to lose thousands of dollars. “According to our investigation, the incident occurred due to a short circuit in the building’s electrical system, causing an art shop called Ika Collection’s to lose a lot of their goods.” Iptu Sukadi said on Friday (6/8).
According to the information from a witness named Ni Wayan Sukerti (aged 52) who has been working at a laundry service that is located across from the art shop, Sukerti started to notice that something was wrong when she sa black smoke that appeared to be coming through the art shops ventilation that morning. “When the witness spotted the smoke, she immediately shouted for help, people came and attempted to put out the fire before firefighters arrived at the scene, but they had very limited equipment.” Iptu Sukadi added.
Shortly after, firefighters from the Badung Fire Department arrived at the location and finally managed to extinguish the fire that had already caused significant damage. However, Iptu Sukadi was thankful that nobody was injured from the incident. “Thankfully, nobody was hurt during the incident, even though the shop owner could potentially lose around thousands of dollars.” Iptu Sukadi concluded.
Plan Your Next Bali Vacation:
Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours
Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our Facebook Community
SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.


text:
Say what you will about Golden Eye, first person shooters on consoles didn't get their real start until 2001 with the release of Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox
Halo: The Master Chief Collection, a bundle featuring remastered versions of 2001′s Halo: Combat Evolved, 2004′s Halo 2, 2003′s Halo 3 and 2012′s Halo 4, is rumoured to be coming to the Xbox One
To celebrate the long weekend, Post Arcade has put together a list of some of our favourite hidden gems inside some of our favourite games.
Are video games the new novels?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be the best selling game of the year. But that may not be enough to brand it a success.
Microsoft Corp said the “Halo 4” video game that it released last week racked up US$220-million in global sales on its launch day, beating records set by previous installments of its hit game series
Halo franchise manager Kevin Grace explains how Halo 4's story helps extend the canon of the Halo universe
Halo 4 is earning the higher ratings from critics, but should Ubisoft be earning higher praise for taking bolder leaps with Assassin's Creed III?
In a first for us here at Post Arcade, our very own Controller Freak, Chad Sapieha, has produced a video review of Halo 4, complete with in-game footage.
To help bring you up to speed on the Halo universe, here's a quick primer on everything you need to know about Master Chief's previous exploits
The CRTC’s solution to quell consumer sentiment is simply offside. Carving the Super Bowl out as an exemption to sim-sub policy is an overreaction, says Canadian Association of Advertisers CEO
Weak markets and a weak loonie have left investors wondering what to do. Purpose Investment’s Som Seif provides some strategies and advice to help you weather the storm
As tough as the fourth quarter was for energy companies, the first quarter of 2016 is expected to be even worse. Geoff Morgan has more from Calgary
Before the Financial Post's Garry Marr starts working on his tan, he breaks down the extras charges on his airline ticket
Patrick Harrison: The dragons aren’t fire-breathing monsters. They gave me a better understanding of where I'm going


text:
Tesla Claims 'Biggest Single-Year Growth' in Landmark Car Production Report
Tesla shared its latest quarterly production report on Wednesday, sharing some staggering end-of-year stats that the firm claims “likely represent the biggest single-year growth in the history of the automotive industry.” The firm’s annual delivery run rate reached over 350,000 cars, nearly tripling its 2017 rate of 120,000 cars and marking the end of a tough period that led to questions about the company’s viability.
The firm stated in its latest report that fourth quarter car production reached 86,555 vehicles, up by eight percent over the previous quarter and setting a new all-time high for quarterly production. That covered 61,394 Model 3 vehicles, a 15 percent boost over the previous quarter, and 25,161 Model S and X cars that meet the target of around 100,000 of those cars per year. Deliveries in the same quarter reached 90,700, which was comprised of 63,150 Model 3s, 13,500 Model Ss, and 14,050 Model Xs. Tesla claims the Model 3 was the biggest-selling premium car in the United States for the year, double that of its second-placed competitor and the “first time in decades” that an American car held the title.
It has been a tough year for Tesla. It started 2018 by revealing that it only made around 202 Model 3s per week in the previous quarter, well below its expectations of 5,000 per week by December. The firm finally reached this figure by the end of June, after questions swirled about whether CEO Elon Musk would raise capital to avoid failure. Musk later revealed in November that the company faced a “severe threat of death” as it “was bleeding money like crazy.”
The company also used the report to reveal plans to cut the price on its vehicles by $2,000. This comes after the United States federal government started phasing out tax credits on Tesla vehicles, triggered by the firm reaching the milestone of 200,000 electric vehicles sold in the country. The phase-out means that as of January 1, customers will receive a $3,750 rebate instead of $7,500. Tesla’s timing means that users will find themselves out of pocket by a smaller sum of $1,750.
Tesla is expected to face new challenges when it launches another mass market electric vehicle, the Model Y sports utility vehicle, sometime in March.
Related video: Elon Musk Says Tesla Had to Force Dedicated Employee to Go Home


text:
Ishinomaki Laboratory embodies the culture of design and do-it-yourself, energised by a local community.
May 22nd, 2015
What began in 2011 as a common utility space for locals to repair damages caused by the 3.11 earthquake in Ishinomaki has transitioned into an independent workshop that creates well crafted products – some were recently exhibited at Milan Design Week.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed


text:
“Popular” would be an understatement.
Many of us organizations, brands, and businesses have submitted our desire to have a Google Plus Business profile established. Apparently there have been so many such requests that the development and project management team at Google is accelerating their efforts to bring the business platform to market.
Check out the latest video from Christian Oestlien, on the Google Plus team, talking about the near future releases.[via YouTube]


text:
Aug. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Ecuador, already the world’s biggest grower of flavored beans used in fine chocolate, is poised to extend its lead over Brazil as the top cocoa producer in the Americas as exporters forecast another record harvest.
Cocoa output probably will rise about 9 percent to 240,000 metric tons in 2014 on government assistance programs and new plantings and as concern subsides that the El Nino weather phenomenon would curb yields, according to Ivan Ontaneda, president of Ecuador’s National Cocoa Exporters Association, known as Anecacao. That’s 14 percent more than the International Cocoa Organization’s 210,000-ton forecast and 20 percent higher than its estimate for Brazil, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, based on information from the group.
The South American nation, where the fatty beans used to make chocolate have been grown since pre-Columbian times, is taking advantage of increased demand for fine chocolate in emerging markets as economic growth boosts salaries and makes luxury items more accessible, Ontaneda said. A new trade agreement reached last month with the European Union, the world’s biggest consumer of fine chocolate, will also help spur investment in and production of Ecuadorean cocoa, he said in an interview at his office in Guayaquil.
“Weather conditions in the fields have been good so far,” Ontaneda, who’s also chief executive officer of cocoa exporter Eco-Kakao SA, said yesterday. “There’s not a single cocoa bean that goes unsold.”
An outbreak of the witches’ broom fungal disease in Brazil reduced the nation’s crop last year. Repeated outbreaks of the disease since the 1980s displaced Brazil from the position of top producer and have since discouraged planting, while West African countries took the lead. The Ivory Coast is the world’s top producer, followed by Ghana.
While Ecuador’s Arriba varietal is used in fine chocolate, ordinary or bulk beans are used for mass production. Chocolate makers like Nestle SA, the world’s biggest food company, operate in the Andean nation.
“Risks from El Nino have decreased and if it’s going to occur, it will be light to moderate,” Ontaneda said. “If rains start in November or December, it’ll be considered a normal rainy season.”


text:
276 different items can no longer be shipped from US to Russia, Belarus
The US has banned the export of smartphones worth over $300, coffee machines, air conditioners, and 273 other items to Russia and Belarus
The Federal Register report says that the United States has expanded export restrictions on shipments to Belarus and Russia of 276 different goods.
Among other things, the export ban includes: fans (wall, floor, roof), air conditioners over USD 750 (wholesale), refrigerators over USD 750, dishwashers, electronic scales over USD 100, microwaves, coffee machines, toasters, and smartphones over USD 300.
Late on Friday night, February 24, the European Union countries agreed on the tenth sanctions package against Russia, which was symbolically adopted exactly one year after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.


text:
By Lindsay Lucas is Managing Director of Software Solved
The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 represented the culmination of years of effort to create a fit-for-purpose compliance programme. The purpose of GDPR is to strengthen privacy rights by making organisations more accountable for how they collect, store, protect and use personal data.
While many companies within the regulation’s scope fine-tuned their strategies in order to ensure compliance, others are still even now playing catch-up. GDPR is likely to be a hot topic for years to come and companies that lack robust, long-term compliance policies may need to allocate more resources to plug gaps to avoid the penalties associated with non-compliance.
Why GDPR is a starting point and not a conclusion
GDPR’s introduction should be seen more as a starting point than a conclusion. Now that the organisational structures are in place and the processes are defined, companies need to ensure that they execute their policies and best practices efficiently and effectively on a day-to-day basis.
GDPR has set a new standard for consumer rights regarding their data, and companies have been challenged as they put systems and processes in place to maintain ongoing compliance. Just because companies have implemented a GDPR strategy this doesn’t mean that the job is complete and companies need to look at ways to understand where their data is and how to protect it going forward.
The regulation is not a tick box exercise and compliance does not mean that companies rest on their laurels. There needs to be a constant review of the processes in place to ensure that data is being handled responsibly.
What are the challenges?
Companies are facing different challenges. For example, some data-intensive businesses struggle to find a practical and efficient way of keeping data processing records up-to-date in the long-term due to the fact that every customer, employee and contractor brings a wealth of personal identifiable information (PII) with them.
Some common challenges that companies face include, the number of data subject requests (DSR) that they are receiving, with DSRs needing to complete within one month of receipt. Companies also seem to struggle with the tight personal data breach notification requirements, whilst others have found the impact of the GDPR on marketing rules set out in the Privacy and Electronic Communications (PEC) Directive more testing.
Compliance has caused some concerns and new expectations of how companies hold their data. For example, the GDPR takes a wide view of what constitutes personal identification information. In the wake of a lot of high-profile data privacy issues, and with evidence that data breaches cost on average almost £3 million per business, there’s a white-hot spotlight on data protection and how businesses are handling, processing, storing and disposing of sensitive data.
What is compliance?
What does it mean to be compliant? This means putting workflows and policies in place that outline how a company achieves data protection in line with the new laws.
To be compliant with data security regulations, companies need to take a close look at the types of sensitive data they are collecting and how it’s currently being handled. In line with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), businesses must implement a series of data management systems that provide protection at the data level, known as information security management systems (ISMS). An ISMS is defined by the ISO as “a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so that it remains secure. It includes people, processes and IT systems by applying a risk management process.”
In particular, ISO 27001 is the most widely recognised data security standard for businesses. Being compliant with ISO 27001 will put your customers’ minds at ease knowing you have been certified as a safe business to trade with.
How has technology helped?
It is important to understand that trust and reputation management are tightly connected, and when an incident like data breach occurs it could potentially damage a companies’ reputation beyond repair depending on the size of the breach, as well costing a fortune in ICO fines. GDPR regulations have data protection and privacy at their core so the repercussions of failing to honour them are likely to be very public.
Technology has helped companies achieve, maintain and evidence compliance more efficiently, and due to this, compliance should become more streamlined and simplified over time. Whilst there have been a number of fines to date, they are fewer than expected. Some companies have incorrectly interpreted this to mean they can step back their GDPR programme activity. Companies need to remember that GDPR is a new law and therefore as it matures it’s expected that the number of fines dealt and their size, will increase. Therefore, having solid privacy compliance processes in place, ideally in the form of a structured privacy compliance programme is vital.


text:
On 15th February, Apple announced its new subscription plans for publishers to sell digital content to their customers over Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod. Google also announced its subscription plans soon after. Revenue sharing is but one difference between Apple and Google. Google takes a 10% cut while Apple takes a 30% cut from subscribers who subscribe within the platform.
In the new service announcement of Apple, however, publishers can sell their digital subscriptions on their own for Apple devices and can also keep 100 percent of subscription sales. But, when a customer uses the Apple iTunes Apps store for subscribing to an application, it is only then that Apple will get 30% of the fees. The only condition to be followed in such cases is that such publishers who offer directly to customers over Apple devices must also make the same content available for sale at the Apple App Store and also at the same price.
Although content subscription through the Apple App Store is simpler, this has brought about a lot of discontent amongst publishers, who feel that Apple is funneling users through the Apps Store for buying content. In this way, Apple manages to steer consumers away from making direct transactions in which Apple’s cut is not feasible. In fact, the US Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission, as also the European Commission, are both closely monitoring the situation, as market regulators, towards control of unfair practices.
In the case of Google, their One Pass subscription services, charges the publisher only 10% as against 30% by Apple. This additional 20% is definitely looked at as a much better option by publishers. Secondly, presently Google does not seem to be restricting by any means and making systems which would force customers to use One Pass.
While some analysts feel that even such massive service providers like credit card companies only charge single digit fees, in the range of only 2 to 4 percent, even this 10 percent by Google is still very high. The competition between Apple and Google will definitely benefit everyone in the long term.
In subscriptions, Apple because of its market dominance, with practically no competition over the last six to seven years, has established definitive and effective standards, while Google has in general being mainly promoting open standards. It is high time publishers took swift and effective strategic decisions in the smartphone market.